Attacks on foreigners in S Africa: 15 killed

Expressing shock at the wave of xenophobic attacks on foreigners that have killed 15 people in the country, South African President Thabo Mbeki on Monday ordered law enforcement agencies to act firmly against perpetrators.

"This is totally unacceptable. I am deeply shocked and concerned at the violence and I want to urge the police to do whatever in their power to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice", he said in an interview to the national SABC broadcaster.

Mbeki also said that an inter-governmental panel to examine the root causes of the violence had been established as a matter of urgency, adding, "It is important for the communities to also act with the police to bring the perpetrators to book".

Fifteen people are now known to have been killed since the attacks started in the Alexandra township last week, against foreign nationals, especially against those from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia and other countries on the African continent.

The violence has spread to several other areas, including certain districts in the city centre of Johannesburg, police said, adding more than 200 people had been arrested for offences ranging from rape, robbery and public violence.

The Red Cross said they have recorded more than three-thousand people across the Johannesburg-Pretoria region who were destitute, amidst reports that crowds of foreigners had sought refuge at community centres and police stations.

The leader of the ruling ANC, Jacob Zuma, has also strongly condemned the violence against foreigners, calling it a "shame".

"I want to urge all ANC structures to rally around and bring these attacks to an end. It is unthinkable that we as South Africans could resort to this sort of violence against foreign nationals", he said.